Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14,741, Nathaniel Fowler, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass
Fowler, Nathaniel Nanna
14,741
CONTENTS

3362 Massachusetts
Nanna Fowler widow of Nathaniel Fowler, decd.
who died on the — — — 1793 of Essex Co. in the State of Mass. who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Merritt of the regt commanded by Col. Glover in the Mass. Militia time for 11 mo. 13 days. Mass.
Founded on the Roll of Mass. at the rate of 57 Dollars 16 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of June 1840 , directed to Jas. Gregory Marblehead Mass.
Amount on the 4th of Mar 1840 $ 574.50 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep r 40  28.58
$543.08
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3d }
Recorded by D. M. Curdy Clerk, Book C . Vol. 1 . Page 54 .

4818
Nanna Fowler
Mass.
Ad 4 July '36-
m 74 -
Secy of Mass Surg. Genl Jms B-
Jas Gregory Esq Marblehead Mass.

State of Massachusetts } ss. Danvers. County of Essex }
On this eighteenth day of November, A. D. 1839. personally appeared before me Daniel Appleton White Esquire, Judge of the Court of Probate within & for the said County of Essex - the same being a Court of Record - Nancy Fowler - a resident of said Danvers, aged nearly Eighty-seven years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, & from the best of her knowledge & belief, make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 4 th , 1836: that she is the widow of Nathaniel Fowler, who was a Sergeant in the Company of Capt John Merritt of the 21 st Regiment of Massachusetts Foot, commanded by Colonel (afterwards General) John Glover in the War of the Revolution: that her said husband was a native of Ipswich in the said County of Essex, but removed to Marblehead in said County a few months before the said War, & resided there at the time of his enlistment in said Corps: that he enlisted in said Corps, in the eight months' service, as a Sergeant & Volunteer, on the eighteenth day of May, A. D. 1775: that her said husband continued in said Corps doing his duty in & about said Marblehead until the twenty-second day of June next following, when he marched with said Regiment to Cambridge, near Boston, & joined the American Army stationed there then under the command of General Ward, & shortly after under the command of General Washington: that her said husband continued with said Corps doing his duty as a Sergeant aforesaid, at said Cambridge & around said Boston, until the thirty-first day of December following, when the term of enlistment having expired said Regiment was discharged & he returned home.
She further declares, that soon after the discharge of said Regiment her said late husband removed back to his said native town of Ipswich, & afterwards to said Danvers: that according to the best of her knowledge & belief, during his sojourn in said Ipswich, he performed two other periods of military

military duty in the service of the said State of Massachusetts in the course of said War - one of six months' duration under Capt. Ebenezer Lord of said Ipswich, & one other of three or more months' duration under a Capt. Baker of Topsfield in the said County of Essex: that she cannot state precisely the time or date when this service was performed , & has no documentary evidence, & knows of no person living whose testimony she can obtain in proof of the facts & particulars of it, or whether he served as an Officer or Private therein, but that she presumes the name of her said late husband will be found on the Company Rolls of said Captain's among the Massachusetts Documents in the War Office, Washington, & to them she begs leave to refer in proof of the same.
She further declares that her said husband might have been in other service in said War than that above described, & by reason of her great age, infirmity & consequent loss of memory, she may have forgotten it, but that she had no present recollection of any other service performed by him in said War than that which she has herein stated & declared.
She further declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel Fowler on the Sixth day of October in the year seventeen hundred & twenty-four: that her husband the aforesaid Nathaniel Fowler died at his home in said Danvers more than forty seven years ago, & that she has remained a widow ever since his death - as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
Nanna Fowler
Witnessed by
Helen C. Richardson
Sworn to & submitted on the day & year above written - the said applicant being unable by reason of infirmity to appear in Court -
Before me -
D. H. Nute
{ Judge of said Court of Probate

I, James Fowler, of Lynn in the County of Essex, & formerly for more than Eighty years of my life of Ipswich in the said County of Essex, do on my oath testify & declare, that I am in the Eighty-First year of my age; that I am a brother of Nathaniel Fowler formerly of said Ipswich, & afterwards of Danvers in said County, when he died many years ago. Said Nathaniel Fowler removed to Marblehead in said County about the commencement of the Revolutionary War, & after it broke out I have heard him say that he served as a Sergeant in a Company which went from that place, but the particular of it I cannot attest to. I am however very certain that he served for a period of six months under Capt Ebenezer Lord of Ipswich, & also with one Capt. Baker from Topsfield in the said County - in the said War of the Revolution, but the particular dates of the said service I cannot swear to.
I have been well acquainted with the widow of my said late brother Nathaniel for many years - her maiden name was Sarah Stephens, & I do further know that she is now a widow living in said Danvers, & has remained a widow ever since the death of her said late husband.
Witness my hand - Nathaniel Fowler
James Fowler his mark
Commonwealth of Massachusetts } ss Lynn. November 9th. 1839. County of Essex }
Then James Fowler, above named, a credible witness, personally appeared & made solemn oath to the truth of the above affidavit, & subscribed the same before me the subscriber. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Notarial Seal, the day & year last above written.
James Gregory, Notary Public.

Commonwealth
Massachusetts
Danvers Town Clerk's Office October 16 th A.D. 1839.
County of Essex
I hereby do hereby declare that I am Clerk of the Town of Danvers aforesaid, and that I have the custody of the Records of said Town and that the following is an extract therefrom
Nathaniel Fowler of Marblehead and Nanna Stevens of Danvers were joined in Marriage on the sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four: That it is a true copy of the Record with the exception of the date, which is expressed in fair legible figures.
"A List of Marriages (Among others)"
"Nath l Fowler of Marblehead and Nanna Stevens of Danvers, Oct r 6 th 1774.
"The above marriage was performed by me"
"Nathaniel Hott, Pastor of the South Church in Danvers"
"Danvers March 11 th 1774"
"Witnessed by Sam l Hotten jun r S t (Clerk)"
I Joseph Shedd above named do hereby certify that I hold the office of Town Clerk in the County, Town and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true Extract from the Records of said Town, with the exception above named, as certified by me
Joseph Shedd, Clerk of the Town of Danvers,
Essex ss. Danvers October 16 th A.D. 1839. Then personally appeared Joseph Shedd Esq. (subscribed to the above Certificate) and made solemn Oath to the truth of the same.
Before me
John W. Proctor
Justice of the Peace

Rev WIDOW, &c.
Own
File No. 14741
Nanna Fowler
Widow of
Nathaniel Fowler
Seventh Rev War
Act: July 4 th 1836
Index:—Vol. a , Page 248
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1818
Lot. ✓ James Gregory, Feb. 1, 1840 " " Do. May 25, 1840
act. 4 July 36

Nanna Fowler 4878 Wid of Nathl. Mass.
Act July 4. 1836
Manned 1774
died 1793
Alloro 11 mo (aw)
13 days a sergeant
Leap Meritt, Co
Mass. Militia.
$ 57.16 per ann
no deduction
Jo. Gregory Esq Marblehead Mass

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, November 4 th 1829.
I hereby Certify, That, from an examination of the Books and Documents, relating to Military Services in the War of the Revolution, which remain in this Department, it appears that the name of Nathaniel Fowler is borne on a Muster Roll of the Company Commanded by Capt. John Merritt. Col. John Glens Regt. to the first Aug t 1775. Where it appears he served as a Sergeant from Marblehead. Enlisted May 18 th . Time of service 2½ Months - 5 days. And the Roll is signed "John Merritt". The name of Nathaniel Fowler is also borne on a Return of Commissioned Men - Commissioned officers and privates, of the 7 th Company, 21 st Regt. of foot. And in the service of the United Colonies, in America. Commanded by Jno Glover Esq. - as a Sergeant from Marblehead - the Return is signed "John Merritt. Capt."
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
ESSEX, ss.
I, JOHN PRINCE, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, within and for the County of Essex, do certify, that Hon. Daniel A. White is judge of the Court of Probate in said County - that John W. Proctor is a justice of the Peace & James Gregory Esq. is a Notary Public within and for said County, and that their signatures hereon are genuine.
WITNESS MY HAND, and the Seal of said Court of Common Pleas,
November 18, A. D. 1839,
John Prince Clerk.

Marblehead, May 21 st 1840.
Honored Sir, -
I duly received your favor of the first inst. returning the affidavit of Capt Thomas Rimbalt, in the case of Mrs Nanna Fowler, under the law of July 4 th , 1836, directing that the credibility of the witness should be certified by a Judge or Justice of the Peace, & adding, "as it is not competent under our rules for Notaries to give such a certificate."
As "Pension laws in force," "Document No. 118, 25 th Congres, 2 d Session, No. of Reps. War Dept." in several places, & particularly particularly page 115, third paragraph from the bottom, seem expressly to recognise the authority of a Notary for certifying the "veracity" - credibility - of a witness, I presume all your Honor intends to demand is an authentication proving my authority to act as a Notary &c. I accordingly herewith return Rimbalt's affidavit with the requisite Certificate from our Secy. of State.
Previous to the order of the W. Department, under date of November 27 th , 1833, a formal authentication of the power of a Magistrate to act, as such, in each & every case of drawing Semi-annual stipends, was required to be produced with the affidavit & power of attorney of the applicant; but since the date of said order the practice under paragraph 4 th of it has been for the Magistrate to put his original signature to a paper - certified to by the proper officer,
and

and setting forth the date & termination of the magistrate's commission, together with the genuineness of his signature. Such an authentication of identity & power to act has been deposited in the Pension Agents' office & been considered a sufficient voucher of his official authority &c. down to the expiration of the term of his commission. By this course great inconvenience & expense to the applicants have been avoided, & it is believed the government has not in any way suffered by the practice. These authentications usually cost from fifty cents to a dollar, when furnished by the Clerks of the Courts, & some of them have to be taxed with the additional expense of sending them 30 or 40 miles before they can be so authenticated; & it is well known that, if every affidavit is so authenticated the cost for this item alone in adjudicating a single application will sometimes exceed ten dollars - all of which must in the end be borne by the poor applicant.
Having been duly commissioned as a Notary on the 25 th of July last, I soon after forwarded to Your Honor the Certificate of the Secretary of the Commonwealth under the Seal of the State setting forth the fact & date of appointment, as also the genuineness of my signature which was duly made on the Certificate. I had hoped that this authentication would have been deemed sufficient by Your Honor, as it is & has been so deemed for the last seven years by the Pension Agents - & especially when the affidavit is accompanied by the semi-official authority of the Notarial Seal .
In the forms issued by the War Department for proving Lost Discharges - while the printed directions for authentications require proof of the quality & signatures of other magistrates,
that

that of the official attestation of a Notary Public is expressly excepted . William Fenson Esqr of Gloucester, in this County, who has acted as Agent for Pension applicants for more than 20 years last past, informed me some months ago that he was in the constant habit of certifying affidavits with his Notarial Seal, & that your Honor had never asked for any other authentication of him in such cases. I beg to be understood as not asking for a relaxation of the rules of the Department in my case in particular ; - all I ask is, that as liberal a course might be adopted toward myself, as is freely extended to Fenson or any other Notary or magistrate. If I cannot be thus dealt with I beg to be so informed, & in future I will in all cases govern myself accordingly - however onerous the expense might be in so doing.
With regard to the statement in your Honor's said favor, that it does not appear by the Rolls that John Baker (under whom it is alleged Nath l Fowler served,) was in service after the eight months term, in 1775, I beg leave to observe that Henry Ray Esqr of this place - who lived in Topsfield - when Capt Baker belonged - all the War - informs me that he distinctly recollects that Capt Baker served in the State of New York & other places nearly through the Revolution. If this be true it is certainly very strange that the Massachusetts Documents should not afford proof of any other period of his service than that of 1775.
I remain, with the highest respect,
Your Honor's ob t . serv t .
James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esqr Commissioner of Pensions. Washington, D. C.

Maclurea Ipswich Nalle Fowler A
Namia m. 17745
75 7 12 8 mo. St. Meneult
+76 6 Eber Lord (Ipswich)
76 + 3 Baker (Ipswich)
+ Thomas Huntall 4 mo
Hts. dec. 1832
1 Dec. 76. Eber Lord Lee Pickney
4 mo. to R.S. to N.B.

Marblehead Nov 21 st 1889.
Honored Sir:
I have the Honor herewith to forward to you the Declaration & papers of Vana Fowler, widow of Nathaniel Fowler, late of Danvers & formerly of Marblehead. Decd. who claims the benefit of the act of July 4 th 1836.
I have the Honor to be very respectfully Your H. Servt., James Gregory
James L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions, Washington D. C.

Marblehead, March 27 th , 1840.
Honored Sir:
In reference to your favor of the first day of February last , relative to the claim of Nanna Fowler , widow of Nath l Fowler , deceased - under the 3 d section of Law of July 4 th , 1836, - stating that the Rolls of the Massachusetts Militia service do not show the name of any such officer as that of Ebenezer Lord , & asking for the full name of Capt Baker - under both of which officers the widow (affidavit of James Fowler also) alleges her late husband served; - I have respectfully to observe - that James Fuller, Henry Russell, Thomas Kimball of Ipswich, in this County, when said Nath l Fowler belonged - were all there pensioned in 1833, for the same period of service referred to by Mr Fowler - under the same Ebenezer Lord , & I beg to refer to the proofs offered in their cases for the length of it . The affidavit of Capt Thomas Kimball - one of the above named veterans - in support of the alleged service of Fowler in Capt. Lord's Company is forwarded herewith.
The "Capt Baker," under whom James Fowler in his affidavit says said Nathaniel served, was, as I have since ascertained, named John Baker .
I am, very respectfully,
James L. Edmands Esq Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Your Honor's ob d Servt.
James Gregory

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Secretary's Office, May 6 th 1840.
I hereby Certify, That James Gregory is now, and has been for the three months last past a Notary Public for the County of Essex,
in the said Commonwealth, duly constituted and commissioned; and that to his acts and attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given, in and out of Court.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the Seal of the Commonwealth, the date above written.
John D. Sleeper Secretary of the Commonwealth.

I, Thomas Kimball, of Ipswich in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Do on my oath testify & declare, that I am in the Eightieth year of my age; that I performed various service in the War of the Revolution on the Land & on the Sea - for part of which I am now a Pensioner under the law of June 7th 1832. That among other service I was served one term of about four months in the Company of Colt Ebenezer Lord late of said Ipswich, deceased, as a Private - from the first day of December, 1776; that we first marched to Providence, Rhode Island - thence to Danbury, Connecticut - thence to a place near Kingsbridge - Hudson River - thence to the Jerseys & were there stationed at a place called "Brand Brook" until about the first of April, 1777, when said Company was discharged & we returned home.
Said Company was attached to a Regiment that was commanded by Colonel Timothy Pickering - afterward Secretary of the United States - but what number said Regiment was I cannot now recollect.
And I do well recollect that Nathaniel Tenner then of said Ipswich & afterward of Danvers in said County, belonged to said Colt Lord Company at the same time with myself, & I believe he served in said Company as some kind of a War commisioned officer , but of this I cannot swear positively.
Witnessed by Mary S. Farley
Thos. Kimball
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
County of Essex.
} ss Ipswich, March 26th, 1840.
Then the above named Thomas Kimball, an undoubted & credible witness, personally appeared & made solemn oath in due form of law to the truth of the above affidavit - by him in my presence subscribed.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, & affixed my Notarial Seal, the day & year above mentioned.
James Gregory, Notary Public.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Fowler, Patrick GRADE Private LINE Pennsylvania
WARRANT NUMBER 9382 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED April 7, 1795 To John Nicholson, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.